D. Brian Scarnecchia, M.Div., J.D.

Biography

Professor D. Brian Scarnecchia is an Associate Professor of Law at Ave Maria School of Law, where he teaches and writes in the areas of international law, jurisprudence, bioethics, human rights, Catholic social thought, and international development. He is also an attorney, author, nonprofit leader, and international advocate whose work has focused extensively on the relationship between law, culture, religion, and human dignity.

Professor Scarnecchia earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Akron, his Master of Arts from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, and his Bachelor of Arts from Youngstown State University.

Before joining the Ave Maria School of Law faculty, Professor Scarnecchia served in numerous academic leadership roles at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Over the course of two decades, he directed the Human Life Studies Program, the Legal Studies Program, and the Humanities and Catholic Culture Program, while also serving as Chairman of the Department of Humanities & Catholic Social Thought and as the Human Life International Chair in Honor of Fr. Paul Marx.

In addition to his academic career, Professor Scarnecchia has maintained a legal practice in Ohio since 1991 and previously served as an Assistant County Prosecutor in Jefferson County, Ohio.

Professor Scarnecchia is the founding President of the International Solidarity & Human Rights Institute, Inc. (ISHRI), an organization dedicated to promoting human rights, religious liberty, and integral human development through international advocacy and educational initiatives. Through this work, he has participated extensively in United Nations conferences, international human rights forums, and diplomatic initiatives involving the Holy See, ASEAN human rights systems, disability rights, family policy, development policy, and bioethics.

His international work has included lectures, presentations, and leadership roles in countries including Italy, Austria, China, the Philippines, Mexico, Switzerland, Australia, France, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He has collaborated with organizations connected to the Holy See, the Pontifical Council for the Family, the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, the Society of Catholic Social Scientists, and numerous international NGOs.

Professor Scarnecchia’s scholarship focuses on bioethics, international human rights, natural law, constitutional theory, Catholic social teaching, demographic policy, public trust doctrine theory, frozen embryo adoption, disability law, and religious liberty. His publications include the book Bioethics, Law and Human Life Issues: A Catholic Perspective on Marriage, Family, Contraception, Abortion, Reproductive Technology and Death and Dying, as well as numerous articles, book chapters, conference papers, and international policy submissions.

At Ave Maria School of Law, Professor Scarnecchia has taught courses including International Law, International Bioethics, Jurisprudence, Property Law, Origins of the Constitution, Disability Law, Climate Change and the Public Trust Doctrine, and Human Rights-related seminars. His work consistently integrates Catholic intellectual tradition, legal philosophy, and international human rights advocacy.

Education

• J.D., University of Akron
• M.A., Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology
• B.A., Youngstown State University

Professional Experience

Professor D. Brian Scarnecchia has served as Associate Professor of Law at Ave Maria School of Law since 2009, after first joining the institution as a Visiting Associate Professor of Law in 2008.

In addition to his academic work, Professor Scarnecchia has maintained a longstanding legal practice in Ohio since 1991 and has extensive experience in international human rights advocacy, bioethics, Catholic social thought, and nonprofit leadership.

Before joining Ave Maria School of Law, Professor Scarnecchia served for many years at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he held numerous academic and administrative leadership roles, including Associate Professor of Legal Studies and Human Life Studies, Director of the Legal Studies Program, Director of the Human Life Studies Program, Director of the Humanities and Catholic Culture Program, and Chairman of the Department of Humanities & Catholic Social Thought.

Professor Scarnecchia is also the founding President of the International Solidarity & Human Rights Institute, Inc. (ISHRI), an international nonprofit organization focused on human rights advocacy and development issues at the United Nations and other international institutions.

Throughout his career, Professor Scarnecchia has participated extensively in international conferences, United Nations sessions, human rights initiatives, and global academic forums related to bioethics, religious liberty, international development, disability rights, family policy, and Catholic social teaching.

Honors & Professional Affiliations

• Board Member, Population Research Institute (2014–present)
• Director, Human Rights Protection Systems of ASEAN Section, International Center on Law, Life, Faith and Family (ICOLF – Rome) (2013–present)
• Committee of Experts Member, Rome Forum of NGOs of Catholic Inspiration affiliated with the Secretariat of State of the Holy See and Pontifical Council for the Family (2007–present)
• Main NGO Representative to the United Nations, Society of Catholic Social Scientists (2004–present)
• Board Member, Treasurer, and Legal Counsel, Society of Catholic Social Scientists (1997–present)
• Member, Secular Franciscan Order, Saints Louis and Elizabeth Chapter (1999–present)
• Knights of Columbus, Third Degree
• Member, Jefferson County Bar Association, State of Ohio (1996–present)
• Admitted to Practice Law in the State of Ohio (1991–present)
• Admitted to the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio (1991–present)
• Former Member, Ave Maria School of Law Board of Visitors (2000–2008)
• Recipient, St. Francis of Assisi Award, Franciscan University of Steubenville (2005)

Courses Taught

• International Law
• Jurisprudence
• Property Law
• International Bioethics
• Origins of the Constitution
• Disability Law
• Climate Change and the Public Trust Doctrine

Media & Speaking Topics

Publications

• Books
• Bioethics, Law and Human Life Issues: A Catholic Perspective on Marriage, Family, Contraception, Abortion, Reproductive Technology and Death and Dying (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2010).
• Brian Scarnecchia and Terrence McKeegan, The Millennium Development Goals in Light of Catholic Social Teaching (New York: Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-Fam), 2009).
• Selected Scholarly Works
• “The Virtue of Judicial Humility,” 13 Ave Maria Law Review 207 (2015).
• “Human Rights Mechanisms in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),” 2 Ave Maria International Law Journal 2 (2013).
• “Public Policy Recommendation Concerning Prenatal Adoption of Frozen Embryos in Light of Fetal Microchimerism,” Ave Maria Law Review, Vol. 11, No. 2 (2013).
• Contributor, Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science, and Social Policy (2008, 2012).
• Contributor, St. Paul, the Natural Law, and Contemporary Legal Theory (2012).
• Contributor, Through a Lens More Clearly: A Catholic Perspective on Law (forthcoming 2015).